The self_ Philosophical, society, and culture.pptx

THE SELF FROM VARIOUS PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES Why is it important to understand “the self” Self-Understanding leads to self-improvement. The more you know yourself, the more you can try to improve your own life. We can identify the changes necessary to recognize our strengths and build on them....

THE SELF FROM VARIOUS PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES Why is it important to understand “the self” Self-Understanding leads to self-improvement. The more you know yourself, the more you can try to improve your own life. We can identify the changes necessary to recognize our strengths and build on them. Philosophical Perspectives on Self Philosophy - study of acquiring knowledge through rational thinking and inquiries that involves in answering questions regarding the nature and existence of man and the world we live in. Philosophical Perspectives on Self Socrates The first philosopher to tackle the “problem of the self” (systematic questioning about “the self). By knowing oneself a person will be able to achieve happiness. Possession of knowledge is a virtue and that ignorance is a depravity. Having the humility to acknowledge ignorance is the first step to knowledge. Philosophical Perspectives on Self Socrates Every man is dualistic (composed of two selves). Body and soul. Body = imperfect and impermanent Soul = perfect and permanent Philosophical Perspectives on Self Plato Student of Socrates. Added to Scorates’ concept of soul, each leading to different behaviors Rational soul Spirited soul Appetitive soul Plato’s view on soul Appetitive soul - the part of the person that is driven by desire and need to satisfy oneself - physical needs, pleasures (food, drink, sleep, sexual needs, etc.) Spirited soul - courageous part of the person. One who wants to do something or to right the wrongs that they observe. This is very competitive and is very active. Competitiveness drives one to expect positive results and winning. Rational soul - The drive of our lives. The part that thinks and plans. It decides what to do, when to do it and the possible results one could have depending on their actions. Philosophical Perspectives on Self Augustine Infused Plato’s view and the doctrine of Christianity. Body and Soul Augustine’s view on body and soul The body is bound to die on earth and the soul is to anticipate living eternally in the realm of spiritual bliss in communion with God. The goal of every human person is to attain this communion and bliss with the Divine by living his life on earth in virtue. Philosophical Perspectives on Self Thomas Aquinas Man is composed of two parts: Matter and form Aquinas’ matter and form Matter (hyle) - common stuff that makes up everything in the universe. Man’s body is part of this matter Form (morphe) - essence of a substance or thing What separates us humans from any other living organism is our soul, our essence. The soul is Philosophical Perspectives on Self Descartes “I think therefore I am” Self as two entities: Cogito and extenza Descartes’ Perspective I think therefore I am How do you know that YOU exist? If you are doubting that you exist then you exist. You can't assume anything about who or what you really are you can safely assume that you exist, otherwise, you would not be thinking about the fact that you exist. The fact that you “think”, should lead you to Descartes’ Perspective Cogito - The thing that thinks, which is the mind Extenza - Extension of the mind, which is the body The body is only a machine that is attached to the mind. The mind is what “makes man a man” Philosophical Perspectives on Self Hume Empericism - school of thought which says knowledge can only be possible if it is sensed and experienced Ex: Jack knows Jill is another human because he can see, touch, and hear her. Hume’s Idea of Self Self is a bundle impressions. Impressions - basic objects of our experience or sensation. Products of direct experience EX: If you touch an ice cube, the cold sensation is an impression. Ideas - copies of impressions EX: The feeling of being in love for the first time is an idea Philosophical Perspectives on Self Kant shares his ideas with Hume. There is an organizing principle that regulates the relationship of the impressions Without the self, one cannot organize the different impressions that one gets in relation to his own existence. Philosophical Perspectives on Self Ryle denies the concept of an internal, non- physical self. What truly matters is the behavior that a person manifests in his day-to-day life Ryle’s Idea of Self Trying to understand a self as it really exists is like visiting your friend's university and looking for the "university." One can roam around the campus, visit the library and the football field, and meet the administrators and faculty and still end up not finding the "university." This is because the campus, the people, the systems, and the territory all form the university. Ryle suggests that the "self" is not an entity one can locate and analyze but simply the convenient name that people use to refer to all the behaviors that Philosophical Perspectives on Self Merleau-Ponty says the mind and body are so intertwined that they cannot be separated. All experience is embodied. One’s body is his opening towards the world. Nature vs. Nurture Nature- is often defined as genetic or hormone-based behaviors, traits, and dispositions. It refers to all of the genes and hereditary factors that influence who we are —from our physical appearance to our personality characteristics. Nurture- refers to all the environmental variables that impact who we are, including our early childhood experiences, how we were raised, our social relationships, and our surrounding culture. The self from “nurture” How much of who you are are now a product of your society, community, and family?  Self is defined by the following characteristics: “Separate, self-contained, independent, consistent, unitary, and private” Separate - distinct from other selves; unique and has its own identity. Even twins are distinct from each other Self contained and independent - can exist on its own, with its own thoughts, own characteristics, own volition Consistent - traits, characteristics, tendencies, and potentialities are enduring and can persist for a long time Self is defined by the following characteristics: “Separate, self-contained, independent, consistent, unitary, and private” Unitary - center of all experiences and thoughts that run through a certain person. Ex: Chief command post Private - not accessible to anyone but the self. Each person sorts out information, feelings and emotions, and thought processes within the self Self is defined by the following characteristics: “Separate, self-contained, independent, consistent, unitary, and private” Social constructivists do not subscribe to the view that the self is self contained and private. They argue that the self is a merge between “the person” and the “social context” Self is defined by the following characteristics: “Separate, self-contained, independent, consistent, unitary, and private” Social constructivists do not subscribe to the view that the self is self contained and private. They argue that the self is a merge between “the person” and the “social context” Consider this: Who are you in relation to your parents? Who are you in relation to your friends? Who are you in relation to your classmates? How do you act and think when with your parents? How do you act and think when with your friends? How do you act and think when with your classmates? According to French Anthropologist Marcel Mauss, self has two faces: personne and moi Personne - what it means to live in a particular institution (family, friends, religion, nationality) Moi - person’s sense of who he is; his body, basic identity, biological givenness You can have a moi but you can shift personne from time to time to adapt to your social situation More examples of personne A Filipino is more law-abiding on other countries. (i.e., jaywalking) Ligaw; Men are sweet and affectionate during “ligaw phase” but suddenly change right after. Self and Development of the Social World Mead and Vygotsky Human persons develop with the use of language acquisition and interaction with others. Human mind is something that is made through language as experienced in the external world and as encountered in dialogs with others. Mead and Vygotsky According to Mead - A child conceptualizes their notion of “self” through language and role-play A child role-plays through toys. Give them dialouges and scripts. It is through this the child differentiates the “self” from the rest Mead and Vygotsky Accordint to Vygotsky - A child internalizes real-life dialogs that he has had with others, with his family, caregiver, or his playmates. How children eventually become what they watch. How children can easily adapt to the cartoon characters they are exposed to. Self in Families Self in Families How can you be influenced by your family? 1. Nature - genes (skin color, height, weight) 2. Nurture - ways of living, behaving, beliefs, attitudes Humans learn the ways of living and therefore their selfhood by being in a family. The kind of family we are born in affects us as we go through life. EX: If you grew up in a respectful family environment then you become respectful as well Teleserye where the babies are swapped in the hospital Self in Families Without a family examples: Tarzan Genie Wiley Mowgli (Jungle Book) Gender and the Self Gender and the Self Gender partly determines how we see ourselves in the world. Society forces a particular identity unto us depending on our sex and/or gender. Husbands: to protect and provide for the family; enforcer Wives: caregiver; emotional support These gender stereotypes are also perpetuated through the imitation of children and their parents Gender and the Self There is a tendency for a son or daughter to imitate their father or mother. For sons: holding one’s emotion, being tough For daughter: being sensitive, in-tune with emotions Gender has to be personally discovered and asserted and not dictated by culture and the society